Extension device



Oct 13, 1942. H DE L lsLE 2,299,008

EXTENSION DEVICE Filed May 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,jf Q.

Oct. 13, 1942. H. L. DE LlsLE 2,299,008

EXTENSION D EVICE Filed May 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 13 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE'.Y

EXTENSION DEVICE Harold L. De Lisle, sheboygan, wis.

Application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,055

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in extension lamp devices more particularly of the class embodying a metallic tape of naturally arcuate cross-section.

The invention pertains especially to such devices in which the direction of a pair of such tapes is desired to be changed between the housing therefor and an article supported thereby, and has marked utility when adapted for use with an article such as a lamp for illuminating the drawing board of a draftsmans table or the like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of a draftsmans table with my invention associated therewith and showing in dotted lines two of many different selective adjustments thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged axial View chiefly in section, through the device shown associated with the table in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-section still further enlarged and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is another cross-section on the scale of Fig. 3 but taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is another cross-section on the same scale taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Figure 6 is a separated view, somewhat reduced, of the elbow half part shown in Fig. 2 without the tapes;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the tape, a flexible strip and a light cord together; and

Figure 8 is a modication showing two of the devices supporting an article such as an elongated lamp between them, and shown associated with the drawing board, somewhat reduced.

Referring in detail to the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, my improved extension device includes a pair of steel tapes IE] and II, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, are superposed as best shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 2 and in cross-section in Figs. 3 and 5, from which latter the natural inherent arcuation of the tapes is indicated. The Ycon-- cavities of the tapes are preferably face to face. The tapes are here shown soldered together at their ends as at 34 and 35 at each end but along their longitudinal edges are unsecured to each other so that they may atten out to turn a corner. As here shown, the tapes Il! and II extend upwardly from the housing I2 through the elbow I3, where the direction of their axis is changed from vertical to horizontal and the tapes terminate at the article I4, which is here a lamp having the incandescent bulb I therein for illuminating the drawing board I6, the lamp I4 being supported by the steel tapes I0 and II,

their concavity giving them a rigidity for this purpose, as by a well known beam effect.

The housing I2 which is desirably hollow for a substantial part if not all of its length, receives the inner end of the tapes I0 and II therein to a greater or `less extent as presently more particularly described. In this instance, connected to the inner end of the tapes I0 and II is a metal flexible strip I1 of greater flexibility than the tapes I0 and II and which is adapted to be bent upon itself in the housing I2 and to constitute a leader for the light cord I8 which may be tied thereto as by straps I9. The light cord is first carried by the flexible strip I'I,'lying along the face of the latter as best shown in Fig. '7,

and then by the steel tapes I0 and II, lying between the latter, the natural concavities of the tapes forming a conduit 33 for the light cord. The housing I2 may have an inlet 20 for the light cord I8. The flexible strip I1 may be soldered as at 31 or otherwise suitably secured to the tape II, for example, on the inner concave side of this tapevso as to be also within the conduit 33. l

In the extended `position of the tapes I0 and II as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lamp I4 isY adjusted horizontally to a position relatively far forward over the drawing board I6, and in this case the steel tapes are almost entirely withdrawn from the housing I2 and the flexible strip I'I occupies a position somewhat as indicated in dottedvlines in Fig. 1, as contrasted with the position of the flexible strip II when the tapes are retracted as shown in Fig. 2. The position of 3 the inlet 20 at thevupper end of the housing I2 permits this extension of the flexible strip Il or its doubling upon itself to accommodate the inward and outward movements of the tapes desirably without moving the light cord back and forth in the inlet 20.

The elbow member I3 is advantageously formed of a molded initially plastic material and is split axially into two halves |311 and ISI), the halves having the passage |00 extending jointly axially therethrough and this passage is desirably bifurcated lin the vicinity of the corner IUI of the elbow member which occurs as the axis of the latter is changed in direction. To form this bifurcation of the passage |00, the elbow member halves I3a and I3b have mating channels 2l and 22, for the tape I0, and 23 and 24 for the tape II, these channels serving to separate the tapes as they turn the corner in their passage through the elbow member I3 so as to maintain a space therebetween for the light cord I8, which, as will of the corner as best seen in Fig. 4. The split ting of the elbow member as described, permits ready threading of the tapes and light cord therethrough and the halves |311. and I3b may then be firmly held together as by screws 26. The lower end of the elbow member 21 is cylindrical and is rotatably received in the upper end 28 of the housing I2, a reduction in the diameter of the part 27 of the elbow member providing a shoulder 29 which limits downward movement of the elbow member in the housing. The upper end of the housing is conveniently formed with a pair of tongues 30 each quartercylindrical and provided with lugs l3l which lugs have the thumb-screw 32 passing threadedly therethrough to clamp the elbow member snugly but rotatably in the housing.

The ends of the passage I 06] through the elbow member are desirably reduced in cross-section as at |32 and I33 respectively, to bring the tape members I E] and I I together again'as they emerge from the elbow member with the light cord I8 therebetween. The ends of the tapes may be secured together as by soldering, at 34 at their inner end, and at 35 at their outer end, at which latter end they pass into the sleeve 36 of the lamp I4 and are firmly secured therein by any appropriate means in supporting relation thereto.

When the device is carried by a base or table 38 upon which the drawing board IE is mounted, as here shown, the table may have a bracket 39 through which the housing I2 passes and in which the housing may be vertically adjustable as indicated in dotted lines at 4U, Fig. 1, to raise or lower the lamp I4, a hand clamp 4| being provided on the bracket 39 for xing this adjustment selectively.

As the angle of the drawing board I6 with ref- V erence to the table may be adjustable by a Well known device illustrated at 42 and not necessary to be here further described, the elevation of the lamp I4 with respect to the board may thus be also adjusted, as well as, in accordance -with the present invention, the position horizontally of the lamp, by means of retracting or extending the tapes i3 and II on which the lamp I4 is supported. It will be understood that the rigidity of the tapes provided by their concave cross-section permits the supporting of the lamp by the tapes without drooping of the lamp. Thus, a minimum of parts extend over the drawing board. At the same time, by reason of the rotatability of the elbow member I3 and cooperation of the tapes therewith, any desired angle of the lamp I4 may be obtained. By means of my invention, the time and convenience of the draftsman isserved.

As shown in Fig. 8, my invention may be readily adapted to an elongated lamp 43, of, for example, the well known popular uorescent type, and in this instance there may be two of the extension devices 9, the lamp 43 being supported between and by both of the devices jointly, while being still adjustable generally as described with reference to Figs. 1 to '7.

Such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the following claims without departing from the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In an extension lamp device, the combina tion of a pair of superposed steel tapes having a naturally slightly arcuate cross-section, an electric light cord disposed between said tapes throughout, an elbow member having a bore therethrough for the passage of the tapes, said elbow changing the direction of the tapes and at the same time permitting the passage of the cord therethrough, a housing connected to the elbow, the elbow being mounted rotatably thereon, said housing having a hollow portion adapted to receive the inner ends of said tapes in varying amounts when retracted the tapes therein resuming their naturally arcuate cross-section, and an electric lamp beyond the elbow at the outer ends of said tapes and supported thereby when the tapes are extended.

2. In an extension lamp device, the combination of a steel tape having a naturally slightly arcuate cross-section to produce a beam eiect but iiexible when iiat, an elbow member having a bore therethrough for the passage of the tape, said elbow member being adapted to atten and change the direction of the tape, a tubular housing connected to the elbow, said housing being adapted to receive the inner end of the tape in varying amounts when retracted, a flexible rstrip attached to the inner end of the tape of greater flexibility than the tape whereby to be bent upon itself when the tape is retracted within the housing, an electric light cord passing through the housing carried by the strip, and a lamp on the outer end of said tape and supported thereby when the tape is extended.

3. In an extension lamp device, the combination of a pair of superposed steel tapes having a naturally slightly arcuate cross-section to produce -a beam effect but flexible when flat, an electric light cord disposed between said tapes throughout, an elbow member having a bore therethrough for the passage of the tapes said elbow member being adapted to flatten and change the direction of the tapes while at the same time permitting the passage of the cord therethrough, a tubular housing for the cord and rotatably mounting the elbow thereon, said housing having a hollow portion adapted to receive the inner ends of the tapes in varying amounts when retracted, a metallic exible strip attached to the inner end of the tapes of greater `exibility than the tapes and carrying said cord between the place where the cord is disposed Vbetween the tapes and the place where the cord is admitted into the housing whereby to be bent upon itself with the cord when the tapes are retracted within the housing, and a lamp beyond the elbow on the outer end of said tapes and supported thereby when the tapes are extended.

4. In an extension lamp device, the combination of a plurality of pairs of superposed steel tapes having a naturally slightly arcuate crosssection, an electric light cord disposed between at least one of said pairs of tapes throughout, a pair of elbow members each having a bore therethrough for the passage of one of the pairs of the tapes` the tapes being adopted to be slidingly moved in the elbow and said elbow changing the direction of the tapes and at the same time permitting the passage of the cord therethrough` a tubular housing connected to each elbow mounted in upright parallel relationship, the elbows being mounted rotatably thereon, said housings being adapted to receive the inner ends of said pairs of tapes respectively in varying amounts when retracted, and an electric lamp disposed transversely at the outer ends of said tapes jointly and supported thereby when the tapes are extended, whereby the elbows may be disposed either in parallel one with the other or out of parallel to accommodate selective positions of the lamp.

HAROLD L. DE LISLE. 

